Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia on Thursday suffered another loss in court over his FIFA ban appeal.
FIFA had in 2019 imposed the lifetime ban, saying Siasia violated its code of ethics over a bribery scheme for Australian matches. The ban which prevented Siasia from using his U.S. Soccer Federation coaching license, was reduced to five years.
In a 3-0 decision on Thursday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said Samson Siasia did not show why a trial court in New York had jurisdiction over his case.
Siasia, an Atlanta resident and former Nigeria striker, sued FIFA in August 2021, saying the evidence was “grossly insufficient” and that the ban violated his due process rights under the U.S. Constitution.
But the appeals court said Siasia did not show that FIFA was “essentially at home” in New York, or agreed to be sued there because it banned his use of what Siasia called his “New York” coaching license.
The unsigned decision upheld a Manhattan trial judge’s Oct. 2021 dismissal of Siasia’s lawsuit.
A lawyer for Siasia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.FIFA has said Siasia’s claims were meritless.
The soccer body is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and had banned Siasia under Swiss law.
In June 2021, the Court of Arbitration for Sport shortened the ban, calling it too severe for a first offense.
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